Apparatus for delivering change



March 16, 1937. G 555 APPARATUSFOR DELIVERING CHANGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 20, 1934 INVENTOR GOVAN GEE- fight/MM ATTORNEYS March 16, 1937. G. GEE

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING CHANGE Filed April 20, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs Application April 20, 1934, Serial No. 721,571 In Great Britain April 21, 1933 1 Claim.

This invention relates to apparatus for delivering coin change and has for its object the provision of a novel, simple and reliable appliance for use by traders, conductors of public vehicles and others to facilitate the rapid and accurate delivery of change.

The apparatus forming the subject of this invention comprises a magazine or holder adapted to receive coins into a number of separate receptacles and fitted with novel mechanism operable at will to deliver one or a number of coins from any or all of the receptacles into a coin chute or receiver. Each receptacle receives coins of one denomination and there may be one or a number of receptacles for each of a number of different denominations.

The apparatus is further characterized that it may be portable and conformable to the person of the operator, can be actuated for delivery of coins or refill by one hand, is proof against the snatch-thief and carries at all times a visual indication of the coins for delivery.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which is shown a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention and in which:-

Fig. l is a front elevation of the device in part section and with the frontal cover plate removed.

Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the delivery chute and spring hinged release cover.

Fig. 4 shows detail of ejector and masking plate.

Fig. 5 shows detail of coin tilting gear.

Fig. 5a. is a view of the parts of Fig. 5 taken at a right angle to the latter.

Fig. 6 shows detail of alternative means for actuating the ejector plate.

Fig. '7 shows the device in situ on the operators 40 person.

Referring to the drawings the back plate I in the portable form is fitted with a series of tubular magazines 2 adapted to hold and retain coins 3 of varying diameters and denominations. The

magazines 2 are preferably arranged in a vertical length are those for coins of lesser value. If desired, however, the magazines 2 may all be made of equal length. Transverse of the magazines 2 is fitted a bracket 4 in which are guided plungers 5 one for each magazine having heads 6 indicating the denominational value of the coins in the contiguousmagazine. The plungers 5 are retarded against movement by springs 6a and pass through holes "I in masking plates 8, the plunger tails 50. being given an upward angular cant and enter holes 9 in ejector plates Ill. The masking plates 8 are secured about the bases of the magazines 2 by any convenient means with distance pieces 8a the thickness of the coin or coins to be ejected from the magazine by the ejector plate Ill, the depth of the latter plate being equal to the coin or coins to be removed at one stroke of the plungers 5. The plates 8 are so cut as to present to the magazine a crescent shaped or arcuate support for the lowermost coin falling in the magazine, the segment or are being of such dimension that the coin cannot pass through the base of the tubular magazine since more than half of its circumference is supported by the masking plate 8. The exit end of the magazine 2 remote from the masking plate 8 is free but the lowermost coin in the magazine is surrounded by the walls of a circular aperture in the ejector plate Ill. The ejector plate 10 of each magazine is pivoted at H, and is drilled at its corner at 9 to receive the bent-up tail rod 50. of the plunger 5. Depression of plunger 5 will cause the ejector plate to move angularly of its pivot I l, and carry with it the lowermost coin 3, which when the travel has been sufiicient is no longer supported and it falls entering the common chute l2 which latter is normally closed by lid l3 hinged under pressure of spring H, see Fig. 3. To remove the coins from the chute l2 the lid I3 is pressed back by the thumb and the hand held in a cupped position to receive the coin below the opening as shown inFig. '7.

In order that the machine be rendered easy for multiple production, the magazines 2 are made of equal length and stamped distance pieces 2a employed in conjunction with extensions 8a of the masking plates 8, this method of construction lessening the width of the device for any given number of coin magazines.

The back plate I of the apparatus is made to a body curve and provided with slots M for shoulder straps l5 and side slots It for waist straps l6a. By suitable modifications of the back plate the device can be used in. other than portable forms. The magazines 2 are provided with frontal and axial slots IT for visual indication of the number of coins housed in each magazine and the series of magazines are closed by a lid plate I I8 hinged at I9 and adapted to be locked by a pin 20. Above each magazine are provided checks 2 I, spaced at distances to admit no largercoin than the diameter of the magazine will admit, and the closure of the lid plate l8 completes the formation of a coin slot through which the appropriate coins can be freely and quickly inserted edgewise.

In Fig. 6 is shown an alternative means of actuating the ejector plate. In this device, the plunger 5?) is provided with a wedge shaped fin 50 which upon depression of the plunger to bear against a shoulder Illa of ejector plate II! which latter is provided with a reaction spring lllb for zeroizing the plate ID for reoperation when the plunger 5b is no longer depressed and returns under pressure of spring 6a to its normal position.

Since the walls of the ejector plate I encircle the lowermost coin 3 two or more coins may be ejected at a single depression of the plunger or 5b by making the ejector plate It] or ID of a thickness equal to the number of coins to be ejected and providing also the necessary distance pieces 2a between the base of the magazine 2 and masking plate 8 to accommodate the extra thickness of the ejector plate ill or ID.

Should objection be made to the noise of coins constantly falling within the chute [2, the latter may be lined with smooth faced rubber, with canvas or other like hard wearing material 23 to deaden sound. On the other hand if a coin smaller than that for which the magazine is designed is placed therein by error, it will no longer be supported by the sector of the masking plate 8, and will fall into the chute i 2 and in doing so give audible Warning of such occurrence.

In operation coins are filled into the magazines according to their denominational values as indicated by the plunger heads 5. When change is required the appropriate plungers 5 are depressed which then operate the ejector plates Ill discharging the coins into the chute I2 common to all magazines. The coins remain in the chute well lZa bearing against the spring hinged lid l3 until they are released by the operator as explained in reference to Fig. 7. After any coin is ejected the ejector plate l0 returns under influence of springs Gato its position at the base of the magazine 2 where it receives the bottom coin of the pile which during ejection of the previous coin rested on its uppermost face. The coin now within the ejector plate is ready for delivery when the plunger 5 is depressed.

The operation of the device needs only one hand, moreover two or more coin discharge keys may be simultaneously depressed, and in a short while the operation becomes so automatic that the plungers can be actuated without observation and change in three or four varieties of coin can be available as soon as the mind has computed the amount.

In order that deformed coins, or coins with bent or uneven edges may not lie vertically when inserted in the magazines 2 a coin tilting device may be employed, see Fig. 5. In this device an external plunger 25 is connected to a member of a parallel link device having an upper member 26 and equal links 21. One of said links 21 bears against a pin 28 and the upper member 26 has projections 29 adapted to lie, when the plunger 25 is pressed in, beneath the centres of the magazines 2. The whole tilting device is mounted angularly of the mouth of the magazines 2 and when the plunger is pressed the projection 29 engages the protruding edge of any coin in any of the magazines served and lifts it causing it to drop and lie fiat upon the masking plate 8 within the ejector Ill. The whole mechanism under influence of spring 30 returns to its zero position when the finger is removed from the plunger 25 and remains away from the path of coin travel within the chute. Alternatively the sight aperture slots I! in the magazines 2 may have enlargements l'la (see Fig. 1) which enables a finger to be inserted and the coin touched and unbalanced so that it falls flat.

Although the two forms of actuation of the ejector plate are described, any device that will convert motion in a vertical direction to motion at right angles thereto to actuate the ejector plate will suffice.

I claim:

An apparatus of the class described having a tube to receive and hold coins, a laterally extending bracket on the exterior of the tube, a masking plate in the tube for the lowermost coin, fastening means securing the masking plate to the tube, a, depressible rectilinearly movable plunger mounted in said bracket and masking plate, an operatively mounted expansive return spring engaging said masking plate, a coin-ejecting plate pivoted on the said fastening means above the masking plate and provided with an opening, said plunger having a part angularly disposed in said opening presenting an inclined surface to engage and actuate the coin-ejecting plate through depression of the plunger, and said part presenting a second inclined surface to engage and restore the coin-ejecting plate to normal position on return movement of the plunger urged by said spring.

GOVAN GEE. 

